Muslim charged with race hate crime after CPS reversal

A MUSLIM man is facing allegations he carried out racially motivated attacks against three Orthodox Jews, after campaigners challenged the prosecution’s decision to drop the religiously aggravated element of the case.

Abdullah Qureshi, 29, had admitted assaults in Stamford Hill, north London, but denied singling out his victims because of their religion.

His pleas were initially accepted but prosecutors have now admitted they made a mistake and have reinstated the part of the charge that alleges Mr Qureshi deliberately chose to attack Jewish people.

The incidents, reported by Shomrim, a community organisation, led to widespread concern among the Orthodox Jewish community in north London and prompted the Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, to condemn the “appalling” attacks.

One victim was struck in the side of the head, while another was hit in the face with a bottle. Mr Qureshi, of Dewsbury, West Yorks, previously admitted grievous bodily harm and assault by beating at Thames magistrates’ court in April. The decision to spare him racehate charges prompted the Campaign Against Antisemitism to make representations to the Crown Prosecution Service, along with other organisations and Jewish leaders.

The CPS has requested that the two charges of religiously aggravated GBH and religiously aggravated assault be reinstated against Mr Qureshi. A third new charge relates to a religiously aggravated assault on a 16-year-old boy.

Mr Qureshi will attend court on August 25.